Crows hope Porplyzia can shoulder load - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Crows hope Porplyzia can shoulder load

By Sam Lienert 03/08/2008 02:42:04 PM Comments (0)

Adelaide will again be sweating on the fitness of courageous forward Jason Porplyzia ahead of next weekend's crucial AFL match against Richmond at AAMI Stadium.

Porplyzia was knocked unconscious and had his brittle right shoulder partly dislocated in a second-term collision with Carlton's Steven Browne during Saturday's win over the Blues.

It was only the second game back for the 23-year-old, after he dislocated the same shoulder in round 15 and missed the following week's clash with Port Adelaide.

After considering what would have been season-ending surgery, he instead returned last round to boot a match-winning five-goal haul against Sydney, despite the shoulder again popping out.

The Crows are hopeful he will again front up against the Tigers next Sunday, despite damaging the shoulder for the third time in as many matches against the Blues.

"He's a bit sore, but we're hopeful he'll come up okay," Adelaide football manager John Reid said.

"We've got an eight-day break, which should help, he's got a bit of a headache, we'll know more in the next few days.

"(The shoulder) just partly came out, so he'll hopefully be alright."

Porplyzia's fitness is of enormous importance to the Crows, given he is their second-highest goal-kicker this season, with their top scorer Brett Burton out for the season with a knee injury.

Other players under fitness clouds include North Melbourne skipper Adam Simpson, a late withdrawal from Saturday night's match against Brisbane with a hip injury.

The Kangaroos face a tough match against the Western Bulldogs at Telstra Dome next Sunday.

Collingwood midfielder Shane O'Bree could also be in danger of missing the Magpies' vital encounter with St Kilda at the MCG next Saturday night.

O'Bree hurt his hip in a collision with Hawthorn skipper Sam Mitchell on Friday night, a match in which the Magpies suffered their third straight defeat.

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